Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Bradford Orange’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Bradford Orange’, characterized by its anemone type inflorescences with orange-colored ray and disc florets; strong and erect flowering stems; early flowering response; and good postproduction longevity.

Botanical classification/cultivar designation: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Bradford Orange.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant, botanically known as Chrysanthemum×morifolium and referred to by the name ‘Bradford Orange’.

The new Chrysanthemum is a naturally occurring whole plant mutation of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Bradford, not patented. The new Chrysanthemum was discovered and selected by the Inventor on Jul. 18, 2000 within a population of plants of the cultivar Bradford in a controlled environment in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands.

Asexual reproduction of the new Chrysanthemum by terminal cuttings in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands since Aug. 10, 2000, has shown that the unique features of this new Chrysanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar Bradford Orange has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature, daylength and light intensity, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘Bradford Orange’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘Bradford Orange’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Anemone type inflorescences with orange-colored ray and disc florets; typically grown as a spray type.

2. Strong and erect flowering stems.

3. Early flowering response.

4. Good postproduction longevity.

Compared to plants of the parent, the cultivar Bradford, plants of the new Chrysanthemum are more vigorous. In addition, plants of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Bradford differ in ray floret coloration as plants of the cultivar Bradford have red-colored ray florets.

Plants of the new Chrysanthemum can be compared to plants of the Chrysanthemum cultivar Troyes, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands, plants of the new Chrysanthemum differed from plants of the cultivar Troyes in the following characteristics:

1. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more uniform than plants of the cultivar Troyes.

2. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum had glossier leaves than plants of the cultivar Troyes.

3. Plants of the new Chrysanthemum were more freely flowering than plants of the cultivar Troyes.

4. Plant of the new Chrysanthemum and the cultivar Troyes differed in ray floret coloration as plants of the cultivar Troyes had purple-colored ray florets.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new cultivar, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the actual colors of the new Chrysanthemum.

The photograph at the top of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering stem of ‘Bradford Orange’.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a close-up view of typical leaves and inflorescences of ‘Bradford Orange’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 1995 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The aforementioned photographs and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the spring in 's Gravenzande, The Netherlands, under commercial practice in a glass-covered greenhouse. Plants were initially given long day/short night treatments followed by short day/long night treatments to induce flower initiation and development. During the production of the plants, day temperatures were about 18° C. and night temperatures were about 17° C. Plants were about ten weeks from planting when the photographs and the description were taken.

Botanical classification: Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Bradford Orange.

Commercial classification: Anemone type Chrysanthemum typically grown as a spray-type cut flower.

Parentage: Naturally occurring whole plant mutation of Chrysanthemum×morifolium cultivar Bradford, not patented.

Propagation:

Type.—Terminal tip cuttings.

Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 5 days at 20° C.

Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 6 days at 18° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting, summer.—About 10 days at 20° C.

Time to produce a rooted cutting, winter.—About 14 days at 18° C.

Root description.—Fine and freely branching; white in color.

Plant description:

Appearance.—Herbaceous anemone-type cut Chrysanthemum; typically grown as a spray type; erect and strong flowering stems.

Growth rate.—Rapid; moderately vigorous.

Flowering stem description.—Length: About 90 to 100 cm. Diameter, at apex: About 6 mm. Strength: Strong. Aspect: Erect. Branching habit: Plants are typically grown as single stems. Color: 137C.

Foliage description.—Arrangement: Alternate. Length: About 6 to 15 cm. Width: About 6 to 10 cm. Apex: Apiculate. Base: Acute. Margin: Pinnately lobed. Texture: Rough; both surfaces pubescent. Petiole length: About 3 to 4.5 cm. Color: Developing and fully expanded foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing and fully expanded foliage, lower surface: 137C. Venation, upper surface: 147B. Venation, lower surface: 146B. Petiole, upper and lower surfaces: 146B.

Inflorescence description:

Appearance.—Anemone type inflorescence form with elongated oblong-shaped ray florets. Inflorescences borne on terminals above foliage. Disk and ray florets develop acropetally on a capitulum. Not fragrant. Typically grown as a spray-type.

Flowering response.—Under natural conditions, plant typically flower in November in the Northern Hemisphere. At other times of the year, inflorescence initiation and development can be induced under short day/long night conditions (at least 13.5 hours of darkness). Plants exposed to long day/short night conditions after planting followed by photoinductive short day/long night conditions flower about 51 to 54 days later.

Postproduction longevity.—Inflorescences will maintain good substance and form for about three weeks after harvesting.

Quantity of inflorescences per flowering stem.—About 14 to 16 inflorescences per flowering stem.

Inflorescence size.—Diameter: About 7 cm. Depth (height): About 2 cm.

Inflorescence buds.—Length: About 1 cm. Diameter: About 1.1 cm. Shape: Oblate. Color: 138A.

Ray florets.—Length, fully developed: About 3.5 cm. Width, fully developed: About 8 mm. Shape: Elongated oblong. Apex: Acute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture: Smooth, glabrous. Number of ray florets per inflorescence: About 25. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper surface: 172B. When opening and fully opened, lower surface: 167A.

Disc florets.—Shape: Elongated tubular. Length: About 1.2 to 2.5 cm. Width: About 1 to 3 mm. Number of disc florets per inflorescence: About 120. Color: Immature: 142C. Mature: 167C.

Peduncles.—Length, terminal peduncle: About 3 cm. Length, fourth peduncle: About 9 cm. Diameter: About 2 to 3 mm. Angle: About 45° from vertical. Texture: Pubescent. Color: 146B.

Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Present on disc florets only. Anther color: 12A. Pollen color: 12A. Gynoecium: Present on both ray and disc florets.

Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed.

Disease/pest resistance: Plants of the new Chrysanthemum have not been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Chrysanthemum. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Chrysanthemum plant named ‘Bradford Orange’, as illustrated and described. 